San Diego County is one of
the original 27 counties, one of the two largest formed in 1850. Named
after San Diego Bay, which had been rechristened by Vizcaino in 1602, in honor
of the Franciscan, San Diego de Alcala de Henares, whose name was borne by his
flagship. Territory which was once
in San Diego County is now in Imperial, Inyo, Riverside and San Bernardino
counties.